LESSON 8: Importing Points from an ASCII Text File

LESSON 8: Importing Points from an ASCII Text File

There are many existing point file formats available for use when importing points into the project
point database. You can also create custom file formats to match other file formats. In this lesson,
you'll create a file format for an A!II text file, and then import the points into the drawing.
To wor" through this lesson follow these steps
# tart Autodes" $and %es"top if you have not already done so.
& 'n the (ile menu, clic" 'pen to display the 'pen %rawing) *roject +ased dialog box.
The default location folder for project files is c),$and *rojects &--.. If you opted to install these files
in another location instead, specify the appropriate project path.
/ (rom the *roject 0ame list, select T1T'2IA$&, from the elect *roject %rawing list, select
$esson34.dwg, and then clic" '5.
. 'n the *rojects menu, clic" 6enu *alettes to display the 6enu *alette 6anager dialog box.
7 (rom the 6enu list, select $and %es"top &--., and then clic" $oad.
8or"ing through these lessons will result in alteration of the project files. +ac"up copies of these
project files can be found in the c),*rogram (iles,$and %es"top &--.,$andtut folder.
If this lesson has been previously run, copy these unaltered project files to the ,$and *rojects &--.
folder when starting a new tutorial session to ensure that the se9uence outlined in each lesson can be
followed properly.
Creating a Point File Format
!reate a point file format to match the format of the point file provided, which in this case is
northing, easting, elevation, and description.
# 'n the *oints menu, clic" Import:;xport *oints (ormat 6anager to display the (ormat
6anager dialog box.
& !lic" Add to display the (ormat 6anager 3 elect (ormat Type dialog box.
/ (rom the list, select 1ser *oint (ile, and then clic" '5 to display the *oint (ile (ormat
dialog box.
. ;nter Tutorial for the (ormat 0ame, from the %efault ;xtension list, select .txt, and then
enter < =exclamation point> for the !omment Tag.
The default extension list may be left blan" to allow for a generic file extension search.
7 elect %elimited +y, and then verify that the box to the right of the %elimited +y label is
blan".
This means that the file format is space delimited. You could specify a comma3delimited file, or use
any other form of punctuation as a delimiter.
pag.#:/
LESSON 8: Importing Points from an ASCII Text File
? !lic" $oad to display the elect ource (ile dialog box, navigate to the ,$and *rojects
&--.,Tutorial&,urvey folder, select Topo@pnt.txt, and then clic" 'pen.
The first few lines of the topo@pnt.txt file are displayed at the bottom of the dialog box.
1se the following steps to specify the data type for each column to match this file format.
A !lic" the first BunusedC column heading on the left to display the (ormat 6anager 3 elect
!olumn 0ame dialog box.
4 (rom the list, select 0orthing, and then clic" '5 to return to the *oint (ile (ormat dialog
box.
D !lic" the next BunusedC column heading to display the (ormat 6anager 3 elect !olumn
0ame dialog box.
#- (rom the list, select ;asting, and then clic" '5 to return to the *oint (ile (ormat dialog box.
## !lic" the next BunusedC column heading to display the (ormat 6anager 3 elect !olumn
0ame dialog box.
#& (rom the list, select ;levation, and then clic" '5 to return to the *oint (ile (ormat dialog
box.
#/ !lic" the next BunusedC column heading to display the (ormat 6anager 3 elect !olumn
0ame dialog box.
#. (rom the list, select %escription, and then clic" '5 to return to the *oint (ile (ormat dialog
box.
#7 !lic" *arse to display the A!II text point file data under the new column headings.
#? croll down and verify that the format you just created matches the loaded file.
#A !lic" '5 to return to the (ormat 6anager, verify that the new Tutorial file is displayed at the
bottom of the list, and then clic" !lose.
This completes the process of creating a new point file format for importing points.
Importing an ASCII Text Point File
Import the A!II text point file into the point database and the drawing.
# 'n the *oints menu, clic" Import:;xport *oints Import 'ptions to display the !'E'
%atabase Import 'ptions dialog box.
& (or 8hat to do when point numbers need to be asssigned to the points, verify that 1se next
point number is selected, and then clic" '5 to continue.
/ 'n the *oints menu, clic" Import:;xport *oints Import *oints to display the (ormat
6anager 3 Import *oints dialog box.
. (rom the (ormat list, select Tutorial, and then verify that the ource (ile is ,$and *rojects
&--.,Tutorial&,urvey,Topo@pnt.txt.
7 elect the Add *oints to *oint Eroup chec" box, and then clic" the !reate 0ew *oint Eroup
icon to display the (ormat 6anager 3 !reate Eroup dialog box.
? ;nter Topo@Area# for the 0ame, clic" '5 to return to the (ormat 6anager 3 Import *oints
dialog box, and then clic" '5 to display the !'E' %atabase Import 'ptions dialog box.
pag.&:/
LESSON 8: Importing Points from an ASCII Text File
A !lic" '5 to close the !'E' %atabase Import 'ptions dialog box and begin processing
points.
The points are processed and read into the points database and the drawing.
4 'n the Fiew menu, clic" 0amed Fiews to display the Fiew dialog box, under 0ame, select &,
clic" et !urrent, and then clic" '5.
!lic" here to see an illustration of the inserted point file points.
Ta"e a loo" at the points in the points database.
D 'n the *oints menu, clic" $ist *oints to display the $ist *oints dialog box.
#- Ferify that the ;nable (iltering option is selected.
## !lic" the 2eset button to clear the previous selection.
#& !lic" the *oint Eroups tab, select the Topo@Area# point group from the list, and then clic"
the $ist tab.
#/ 8hen you have finished reviewing the point group data, clic" '5.
This concludes the point import lesson. In the next lesson, you'll learn about labeling lines, curves,
spirals, and points.
pag./:/